An alternative to the magazine industry?

[ds89]

I developed an idea to create a men's magazine (target market = straight men in their 20's and early 30's) which included articles and commentary about the art of attracting women. I chose this idea because I've noticed that there are many "schools" in urban areas that teach pick-up and attract serious money. This niche is certainly growing.


Initially I thought this idea was bullet proof:

* Magazine printing and marketing could easily be accomplished with my savings ($5,000)
* Subscriptions could be taken through the internet
* Advertising could even be secured before it goes to print

My problem has come about during my due diligence of the magazine industry. The print industry is dying, with even highly established and profitable magazines coming to a close. On the other hand however, going digital might not be the answer either.

I doubt posting material on a web site and charging a subscription fee to visit it will create a profitable business with so much free content on the web. Blogging is basically signing up for a writing job which isn't what I was looking for. My aim is to box up the growth in these pick-up schools and create a business that can be profitable and eventually automated.

Furthermore, e-reader tablets (think Amazon Kindle) haven't really sold well yet, and have still yet to show if they are the future. This would also make targeting my market that more difficult, since I would not only have to find those interested in this niche but also those who own an e-reader. Would building a business around this unproven product be foolish?

I've definitely hit a dead-end here and could use an outsiders advice. Is there an alternative for my idea that is profitable yet can be boot-strapped with my limited resources?

[akula]

i don't think its a good opportunity...you're talking about an ad funded, content based, consumer business....it's not a good bet, move on.

if you want to "box up the growth in these pick-up schools", create a socially aware, yelp.com type directory for these businesses and charge them cpa rates for getting them clients

create affiliate programs for these schools and get their ads out on the internet, taking a cut from each one of their sales

the point is, do a b2b venture rather than b2c

[DPayne]

I can tell you from experience, you wont be able to print much magazine for $5000.

We print menu guide magazines as part of our advertising package for restaurants, and the print bill ranges anywhere from a few thousand dollars to upwards of $25,000.

Coming from someone in the magazine/print advertising business, I'm with Akula on this one. Create a structure that is B2B, free to consumer, and on a pay-per-inquiry type deal with the schools.

The only way to win in magazines is to make the content free to the end user, and the content needs to be the advertisement. In our menu guide publications, the content (menus) is the advertisment and the restaurants understand that the guides are being picked up specifically for the viewing of their menus. The days of placing ads around content on print are drying up, and I know my days are numbered even with this model and I'm developing other ways to pull in money.

If you can figure out a way that works on a B2B model, print advertising still can rake in a ton of cash for you, but you're going to have to be very creative. Good luck!

[zlad]

hey sorry to say i completely agree to the above. i myself just walked away from a magazine business plan i wrote. as far as the online i also walked away from it... but it can be done. aside from good content and layout youll need to convince levi's why they should spend X dollars for Y ad space on your "pick up artists - fashion" page. you could use two angles in that example of why its better ad space than magazines.

1. a magazine doesnt provide immediate one click away shopping, and with online shopping becoming more popular every day, it would be a good investment

and

2. its a tailored ad to be seen on the correct page of the site - this'll attract the desired market. so an ad like levi's youd put on say the 'fashion' page.

hope that made sense and gives you some ideas. if you need any other help please feel free to email me at zlad_d@yahoo.ca

good luck!

zlad.

ps: been a pick up artist since kindergarden. meeting women and being an entrepreneur share very similar skills, risks and payoffs. ..not to mention capital investment! :P

[veikoh]

Why you need a printed magazine? Why just put it online only if you are already asking to subscribe online? Why waste our planet resources to send out the printed version.

[ds89]

Why you need a printed magazine? Why just put it online only if you are already asking to subscribe online?

I was planning on selling subscriptions from the internet for the printed version.

the point is, do a b2b venture rather than b2c

Thank you for the advice. I'm looking into b2b, and I've realized the print magazine b2c is not going to work out, but I may be able to salvage a b2c idea in this industry. I think the potential for profiting from developing pick up artists is greater than the urban pick-up schools since there isn't that many yet. But the ones who do exist are showing impressive numbers which is what got my interest in this industry.


Thank you for all of the magazine advice, it's definitely a thing of the past, so now I'm going to try to develop new angle for this market.

[veikoh]

Usually magasines do not survive without advertisments. The subscriptin price does not cover printing and distribution. But it could take time for you to get good advertisers there, so it's better to do online.

[rogercbryan]

I would create a blog and start publishing articles like you would if you owned a magazine. Your start up costs will be NIL and you can use the blog to develop a following. If you find that after time you have 1000+ subscribers then you'll know you have a marketable product. At that point you could reexamine the magazine opportunity. What I think you'll find though is that you'll want to expand your web presence well before you'll ever want to go to print on your first magazine.